Friday, May 11, 2012

The guys who publish the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," are also the guys who diagnose you and me if we're out-of-whack. More than likely, if we've got some sort of mental illness and consult a "psych"-something-or-other person for help, he/she probably uses this manual, the DSM.

Well, a problem brewing.

These psych-guys (doctors, therapists, authorities, their teachers, and consultants in the mental health business) have contributed to the information in the latest, updated, new manual. Like other writers and publishers of reference books, they've had to sign a standard, non-disclosure agreement -- they cannot mention or use the newly defined definitions of illnesses, symptoms, and treatments until the DSM is in the market place.

The new DSM will be published in May, 2013. The current DSM (published in 2000), is, in many respects, behind the times and out of date. And this is further complicated by the fact that these psych guys are part of the American Psychiatric Association that's part of the American Medical Association. APA, a non-profit organization, supports itself from what it earns from the worldwide sales of the DSM.

So the psych guys are tearing their hair out -- there are new definitions on autism, depression, schizophrenia, also newly added binge-eating disorders, Internet addiction, sex addiction, and the vast world of premenstrual "dysmorphic" syndrome, and other female orgasmic disorders.

Doctor and patients cannot get reimbursed by insurance companies for treatment and medication until the new guidelines are published and accepted the insurance companies.

It's a mess. Who and what is crazy and who and what is normal has changed. And the guys who define mental illness are upset about money benefits from the book, upset about their patients -- for instance, the autistic. They need these new definitions to be accepted by insurance companies so that someone with Asperger's can get supervision and help, maybe for the rest of their lives.

The furor about what's going on is crazy.

Actually, I'm not sure what's crazy nowadays, on the streets, in religion, music, art, business, entertainment. Gee, what we see/hear every day in politics is nutty, utterly out-of-whack, though I enjoy some of the wonderfully crazy classic movies--"The Shining," Jack Nicholson, "Star is Born" the suicide of Judy Garland's husband, Olivia de Havilland in "Snake Pit."

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

How would I handle the need to be perfect, look perfect, say the right thing, have no opinions on what Barack is saying and doing, not appear to be too black, too educated, too concerned with anything political.

And take care of him, the children and my mother.

And be "low profile " as millions of people are watching, and listening and reacting to everything I do.

And make decisions for the household, it's maintenance, menus, a thousand little and big things that have to do with guests, social engagements, charities, obligations.

And keep track of names, all sorts of data, on spouses, kids, personal issues of the many people that I need to keep track of along with world news -- facts, factors, all the things that involve the president, the country, the world, and ourselves -- our public and private selves.

Gee.

Could I do that?Could I attend all those meetings, pose for all those pictures, give speeches supporting education for children, the role of women, Veterans -- all kinds of things for Veterans?

Monday, May 7, 2012

The headline in Time said: "Almost two billion people will live in regions suffering from water scarcity and two-thirds of the global population will live under water-stressed conditions by 2025 according to UN estimates.

It shouted at me -- We've got to save water!Do you try? I try. Brushing teeth, one turns on the water, and leaves it on.

DON'T.

Rinsing hands, one turns on the water and leaves it on.

DON'T.

After a meal, I don't know about your household, but we clear the table and put utensils in a tall plastic container that's filled with water, and some liquid soap. End of the day, instead of running the dishwasher, we sponge-wash each utensil, then rinse them all together, set them in a drying holder.

Flushing the toilet -- you don't have to flush each and every time you use it.

DO (gently) remind other members of the household, to do the same.DON'T take long showers -- DO make them shorter.

Washing clothes: DO larger loads.

Shampooing: Once your hair is wet, turn OFF the water while you're applying it. Turn water ON when it's time to rinse. Water OFF while applying conditioner. ON when you're ready to rinse.

DON'T drift into a contented reverie, enjoying the flow, and forget.

Picture people in other countries -- drinking, washing clothes, washing themselves in a contaminated river -- we've all seen those pictures.Outcome Magazine, March 9, warned, "Water shortage poses ‘global threat’ In about 40 years’ time more than four out of 10 people in the world may be living in river areas in the grip of severe shortage."

Why post this right now, today? Because it's time to wash my hair and time to do machine-washable clothes. My husband's hamper is full and mine is full of black exercise togs (often used and washed, so I know the color won't run). Therefore, his load and mine can be done together.

We don't have a car to wash, or a garden and grass to water, but city dwellers, can save water. WE HAVE GOT TO SAVE WATER..

HOW I GOT HERE

I started out as a modern dancer, contemporary, but balletic. I didn't want to be a swan, or a barefoot dancer. I wanted to dance to the music that thrilled me as a child, and made me want to be a dancer.

I began writing in the truck my first husband, Mark Ryder and I bought, in order to carry our set, props, and costumes for a long one-night-stands tour -- eighty-eighty performances in eighty-eight cities.

We were performing "Romeo and Juliet" nightly, but our marriage was breaking up. Every day while our stage manager drove us two-hundred miles or so to the next booking, I'd type a detailed description of last night -- what we did well, what we argued about, and a travelogue about the town, and comments from the people at the nightly party.

Recovering from the trip and the divorce, I sent my "car book" to a friend who said -- "Em, it's great,but ..." And that became rewrites, and another book. Then, my marriage to actor John Cullum, and then a play that got produced, and another book, big hopes because a famous agent loved it.The title and concept changed five times -- now it's been published, finally, as "Somebody, Woman of the Century." You can buy it, or read about it and my other five novels on Emily Frankel.com